Imphal, December 27: At least four militants were killed while a Rifleman of the Assam Rifles was also killed in a pre-dawn attack launched by a combined force of 5/11 GR and 7 Assam Rifles on hideouts of militants at Ningthoukhong Mamang Pat (Loktak Lake) in Bishnupur district.

Significantly the district police was kept in the dark about the well planned attack on the hideouts of the militants.

Of the four killed, the three may be Korou of Wangkhei, Binodkumar of Thanga and Ketani of Moirang, said a reliable source.

PIB (Defence Wing) in a statement said that the four killed militants were UNLF cadres and added that the operation was launched by troops of 7 Assam Rifles following specific information about their presence in one of the huts at the floating island at Loktak lake.

One AK-56 rifle and a magazine with 30 live rounds were recovered, said PIB and added that one AR man was killed while another suffered minor injuries on the hand.

One militant also fell into the lake after being hit by a bullet, claimed the statement and added that search operations are still on as it is suspected that some militants may have drowned in the lake.

According to information received here, the attack was launched after after the authority of 57 Mountain Division chal-ked out a specific strategy.

As planned, a combined force of 5/11 GR and 7 Assam Rifles went into action at about 3 am today and swooped down at Thanga and Ningthoukhong Mamang areas.

Personnel of 7 Assam Rifles, which has local persons in its rank and file led the way in two boats and proceeded towards the Ningthoukhong Kha Pat-pan.

The security personnel then made their way towards Thanga side cove- ring a distance of about 5 kms and collided with a hut built in the middle of the lake in the dark.

On being jolted by the collision, the occupants of the hut opened fire from the hut inflicting injuries on the security personnel on the boat.

Hearing the loud report of the gun fire coming from the hut, the other security personnel, who had also made their way into the area, swarmed in from all side and fired towards the hut.

The AR Rifleman who was killed in the shoot out may be one Bijendra of Wabagai.

Another jawan was also injured and he has been identified as Sonwal.

The operation went on till late into the afternoon and State forces were not involved in the operation.

Four bodies suspected to be militants were recovered from the hut on the lake.

One AK rifle, three mobile phones and clothes were recovered by the troops from the hut.

The bodies have been retrieved by Bishnupur police and the same deposited at RIMS morgue.

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